FOR young people, life without modern "essentials" such as mobile phones, computers, TV and convenience foods is hard to imagine.

But 30 volunteers from Northumberland schools are preparing to ditch their modern comforts as they are propelled back to early Victorian times.

They will spend four days next week in an 1840s “Big Brother” house.

Based at Featherstone Castle in Northumberland, they will wear 1840s clothes, do without electricity, bake their own bread and prepare food from basic ingredients and – in the absence of iPods, television and computer games – create their own entertainment.

The only concession to modern times is that the housemates will use battery-operated candles for safety reasons.

The venture is part of the Time Travel Northumberland project based at Woodhorn Museum and Northumberland Archives, which is backed by NE- Generation and the Legacy Trust UK.

The project has involved a total of 50 participants, aged from 15 to 17, from schools across the county.

They researched the archives at Woodhorn and were inspired by a poster for an event in 1836 at the village of Felton in Northumberland. From that came the idea of an 1840s Heritage “Big Brother”.

The 30 historic housemates will be divided into outdoor workers, domestics and ladies and gentlemen.

“The Heritage Big Brother project will offer the opportunity to experience life like their great, great, great grandparents.

“It should be a culture shock but we believe they will relish the challenge,” said Robert Naylor, 15, one member of the project team.